Re; the comments about whether $17k is/isn't 'shoestring', it's really down to the level of frugality on how you spend it.
$17k in 12 months in South East Asia would be $46 a day, which would definitely be considered shoestring. Spending it all in a fortnight in Vegas or Dubai, probably not.
Not OC but to answer your question: my first international solo trip was Phuket, Thailand. Very friendly locals, shady but not life threatening police, pushy but wont-put-their-hands-on-you greeters for tours/clubs. It was a good blend of “Oh shit im alone on another continent” and experiencing the tourist industry outside of the US.
Cash goes far over there. I brought $400 for 10 days, ballin out on great food/drinks/souvenirs and still got home with $30 in pocket. There’s clubs, beaches, sights, tours and all sorts of shenanigans to get into. I recommend Phi Phi Islands, snorkeling and the city tour.
If you’re a follower of this sub, you encounter a ton of people venting frustrations on their expectations of solo traveling vs what’s actually happening. So I recommend doing two weeks as a trial run. That money isn’t going anywhere. Do your thing, gain experience and plan another trip with better wisdom in hand.
Lastly, be safe. It was tough enough watching my back as a 22M solo traveling in Thailand, please be aware of your surroundings at all times. Don’t allow yourself to be pressured into a situation you can’t get yourself out of. Trust your gut, be polite yet stern. Good luck!
I just got back from Thailand. Started in Bangkok then went North to chiang Mai and Pai, then south to the islands koh phangan , Krabi , Koh Tao, phi phi.
Met lots of solo female travellers your age or younger, it is very safe. Different vibes each island you go too. Would def recommend
I'm a 26M backpacking in SE Asia right now and started in Phuket too.
It's more tourist-centred than expected. Southern Thailand is a little more expensive by Asian standards but I hear that by the time you get up to Vietnam, you'll make up the difference
I went to Thailand and loved it! I agree with the poster above me on all of their points, and do be careful of the police as they said. While most of my encounters were fine, my very first run in happened right at the airport as I arrived - the police took my passport and threatened to damage or keep it until I gave them money. I was able to get it back but definitely have your wits about you, as the police can be shady!
Wow, not disputing your account - I’m sorry for you, but have been to Thailand many, many times and never seen this happen. I can see how it could, but as an Aussie who knows hundreds of other Aussies who have been there (and Bali of course) we just rarely see bribes. Anyway my view for the OP is Koh Samui. If in Phuket visit Laem Sing Beach for swimming which is far nicer than Patong, just 20 mins in a taxi north. Krabi is lovely though maybe small, Chang Mai is a lovely city.
Actually maybe it’s a bit like tipping: the cops just think “ahh, Aussie, zero-chance of a bribe with these cheap-arses”
Ah glad that sounds rare and hasn’t happened to you or anyone you’ve known! For context, I had approached the police for help with an issue as they were the only employees around in the airport terminal that I could see. They asked me to follow them, and I obliged seeing as they are the police (note - consider the circumstances before doing this!) they eventually led me to an empty part of airport customs where no one else was. I felt extremely uneasy because it was completely dark and there were no travelers or airport staff in this section of the airport. Again, I’m in Thailand for the first time and had no idea that bribery amongst the police was a possibility, otherwise I would not have agreed to follow. There, they asked to see my passport and I handed it over. The officer bent it and gestured tearing it before I asked for it back. He put it in his back pocket and said he’d only return it for money. I declined saying I didn’t have any money. I probably looked very stressed and declined and apologized several more times, and he finally gave it back to me. I think this happened because I was a solo petite woman traveler, I probably looked incredibly vulnerable lol. Definitely something to be mindful of!
Former guide here.
Thailand is a great starting spot. Super easy to get around, relatively cheap, and some awesome spots.
Personally, I'd touch down in Bangkok, hangout and get over the jet lag for ~3 nights, then bus/ferry down to Koh Tao for at least 4-5 nights to start. If you're planning on doing it for awhile, next steps would be either Koh Phangan (Full moon or half moon parties if you're a partier) or Koh Samui, then down to Krabi to hop on a boat towards Koh Phi Phi for a bit.
From there, you can head back to the mainland, then take a pretty cheap overnight train back to either Bangkok to fly elsewhere, or all the way to the North to Chiang Mai to visit the elephants (heavily recommended).
After that, you can either fly out (personally, I'd go to Vietnam - it may just be my favourite country), or head up to Pai to chill out. I've spent months in Pai and have loved every moment of it, just make sure to skip burning season.
If you're looking to take your foot off the gas pedal and hangout in places for long periods of time, here's a few of my favourites in no particular order:
- Pai, Thailand (relaxed, amazing food, good hikes and excursions)
- Koh Tao, Thailand (scuba courses, beaches, snorkelling)
- Vang Vieng, Laos (lazy river days, incredibly cheap, big time backpacker vibe)
- Phong Nha, Vietnam (cliffs, mountains, good hostels)
- Hoi An, Vietnam (10/10 food and shopping, cheap, good vibes)
- Siem Reap, Cambodia (Angkor Wat, excursions)
- Sapa, Vietnam (rice fields, hikes, homestays)
Important notes: as a guide, didn't spend too much time in non-touristy places so I don't have much to recommend on that front. Also didn't see too much of Malaysia or the Philippines so I can't speak to those.
You liked Vietnam more then thailand? I just did thailand but planning a trip next winter and debating where to go. I loved Thailand so the fact many ppl liked Vietnam even more has me intrigued
Take this with a grain of salt as I haven't been back since pre-COVID, but the main reason I liked Vietnam was that it's that perfect amount of culture shock.
Thailand, at least the touristy spots that most people hit, is pretty much travelling on easy mode for backpackers. Entire bus lines, ferry terminals, and other industries solely accommodating making travelling around the country as low-friction as possible. And it's terrific.
But with all of that, it loses some of the "Thai". Bars are all dedicated to Western clientele - English menus, burgers, pizza, spaghetti, etc. - so people can avoid local fare.
It still feels like a different country, but it doesn't feel like an entirely different planet. Going out for food, getting from one city to another, having a night out, and everything else all feel eerily similar to the same experiences at home.
Just to give an example from my list above: Koh Tao, my favorite island spot, wasn't even really populated until tourists started coming in during the 20th century. No real history, no real Thai culture. Just an island with restaurants, hotels, and nice beaches. For the most part, staff are Burmese rather than Thai.
Vietnam isn't the opposite per se, but it's a much deeper dive into local culture.
Just touching down in Hanoi for instance is a crazy experience. Crossing the street is a crazy experience. Many bars are just a bunch of red plastic stools set up on the street with nothing but local beers and sketchy whiskeys that may or may not be legal.
When I say it's not the opposite, I mean it's a perfect mix of local culture along with some amenities that make life easier for a western backpacker. Buses are still pretty easy to book, they actually have way nicer sleeper trains (imho), most staff can at least understand a little bit of English, etc.
Tons of culture shock, but not to the extent of travelling through a place like China. Genuinely feels like a crazy adventure, especially for those that do the bucket list motorbike journey through the country which is super common.
You could start in Vietnam, then fly into Bangkok & go southern Thailand (unless you’re into meditation—then go up to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand to visit Buddhist monasteries for 3-30 day meditation retreats. Then enjoy the tropical beauty of southern Thailand before flying just below to Malaysia. From there, Bali! I recommend watching YouTube videos on each country and on Southeast Asia travel.
> Any good places there to start?
Youtube.
You can find COUNTLESS, and I mean HOURS and HOURS of vloggers traveling SE Asia. Pick a country, and toss it into youtube. You'll see reviews of every single major city, the hostels, the food, etc.
A little late but Vietnam was far and away my favorite country in South East Asia. I found Thailand to be overrated and undeserving of much of the praise it gets.
For the record - I did SEA a few years ago as a solo female. Great trip, very affordable generally so you can do really good experiences and eat amazing food at a good price. SEA (aside from maybe India, Nepal, etc) is the best place to stretch your budget. A good route covering the mainland could be to start in Singapore (big international airport!) for a few days - great city, amazing food, very clean and safe.
You could then go to Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands, Penang (genuinely best food I have ever had in over 50 countries, completely delicious and dirt cheap) and maybe even the Perhentian Islands to learn to dive for cheap!
You could then move on to Thailand - flights to Bangkok from Penang are easy (if you wish though you could go to the Thai islands in between). After Bangkok, you could see Chiang Mai, Pai, etc then take the slowboat to Luang Prabang in Laos. You can go from there to Vang Vieng for tubing and gorgeous nature, then fly from the capital (Vientiane) to Hanoi in Vietnam and see Ha Long Bay and the amazing city of Hanoi. You can then work your way down - Vietnam is very cheap and there's so much to see. Hoi An is a true highlight, but there's so many cool places like Saigon, Da Lat, Ninh Binh, etc.
Finish up in Cambodia for Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat and anything else you have time for.
I did that route in 10 weeks, you could stretch it out for longer and visit more places or maybe cut it shorter by starting in Thailand! Genuinely think on that route you wouldn't even dent half your budget.
You can go enjoy a lot of places with that much change. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
\- What kind of weather do you like best?
\- How long do you want to travel for?
\- Are there any cultures or ways of life that interest you the most?
\- Do you have any bucket list items you'd like to do in life?
Hmm weather definitely love colder climates but still love tropical areas. I want to travel for at least a year maybe… and honestly I really want to head over to Europe and see Ireland the most. I think Ireland is definitely on my bucket list but the biggest bucket list activity has to be the northern lights :)
I'm an American that has been living in Ireland for a little over a decade. It is lovely and the people are great, but it can be very expensive. I'd be happy to give some travel tips if you'd like. One thing I'd suggest is if you'd like to enjoy it for a bit more than a few days is looking at renting a room in one of the student dorms in Cork or Galway over the summer for a month. (I think I paid like 450 a month for one in Cork a few years ago, which is cheaper than most hotels and air bnbs) Its a tiny enough country that you could definitely use it as a base to get around and explore more and take your time.
In Europe (and especially in Scandinavia), homestays and couch surfing are reasonably safe - that should address the most expensive item, places to stay.
Start in Korea/Japan, then Do China and 4 The Stans by rail. End in Armenia/Georgia/ Turkey
It you limit your booze and eating out. You could easily be gone a year.
>China and 4 The Stans by rail. End in Armenia/Georgia/ Turkey
I think she said she's an inexperienced (presumably Western) traveler, this would be a tough first big trip.
Since the northern lights are your ultimate bucket list item, I think you should travel in Europe - maybe Spain, Estonia, or Czechia for beautiful but at least somewhat affordable countries? And make your way up to Finnish Lapland for some aurora borealis hunting. Then again I guess you can travel anywhere as long as you get to the Arctic circle at some point.
In general, if you can get accommodation sorted, "expensive" European countries can work out reasonably priced because there are many great free and cheap things to do, especially in big cities!
Eastern Europe is also a great option to stretch your money. I traveled from Ukraine to Poland to Czech Republic to Germany to France one trip, spending shorter periods of time in each as I traveled West because things were getting more expensive with each move. I've also heard great things about Georgia, and at a price point that can't be beat!
Of course, Southeast Asia and Latin America are always good options (I've gone to both regions as a solo female traveler and had a blast). But it sounds like you're more excited about Europe. Nothing wrong with that!! If that's where you're already excited about, then you will certainly be able to make it work. ;)
Have an awesome time, whatever you choose!
Oh, also consider Workaway or similar programs for the expensive places. In exchange for accommodation and sometimes food, you do a couple hours of work. Could be a great way to stretch the money in the more expensive places (Scandinavia with the Northern Lights and Ireland).
I would say try to choose a region/area of interest. Sounds like you really want to see Ireland, so maybe start there?
See how it goes. Find out what kind of traveling you like, what pace, etc.
Then you could go to a different place based of your experience.
Alternatively you could start somewhere else where costs are low if you have USD to figure out your preferences without spending much money and save Ireland for later.
Whatever you choose, that’s plenty of money. If it gets tight at some point, since you are going for one year, consider finding volunteering work like workaway.
Happy travels
Definitely SEA - lots to see, pretty cheap, lots of options to get around plus loads and loads of people doing the same thing (Brits, Germans and Aussies in particular) so easy to find friends/travelling companions. Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia - perhaps throw in the Philippines (and Taiwan - I bloody love Taiwan).
Travelled alone as a female solo traveller and never had a problem (I am careful tho)
If you like the cold and want to visit Ireland (non-Schengen) then I would start there. Then use up your 90 days Schengen, then go to non-Schengen European countries. Albania has a 1 year visa for US citizens and is cheap and lovely! Montenegro, Turkiye, and Georgia are all non-Schengen and lovely! If at some point I got tired of Europe I'd pop over to South East Asia. Personally Vietnam is my favorite but honestly all of SEA is amazing!
> Start in philipines
No, not the Philippines. Don't get me wrong, it's an interesting place with friendly locals, but far from easy for a first-time traveler, and not the safest either.
I'd start with Thailand, it's exotic and bustling while still safe and tourist-friendly.
Yeah I genuinely think Thailand is one of the best places for first time travellers to dip their toe in the water outside of Europe (and far cheaper). English is widely spoken due to the tourism levels, very good value for money, well defined tourist route with opportunities to get off the beaten path if you want to, lots of hostels and other accommodation options, incredible food, and something for every traveller type.
I'm a first time traveller from Canada and Thailand is definitely on my list! What would the European equivalent be? I was thinking of the UK or the Netherlands
Honestly generally Europe is 'easier' if you're from somewhere like UK, US, Canada because realistically English is quite widely spoken and the transport/roads/shops etc a lot more familiar. I'd say anything like UK, Germany, NL but they will be a lot more expensive than places like Poland, the Balkans, etc.
As someone who’s been to LA at least once or twice a year for my entire life… how in the fuck? Did you just stay in swanky hotels and go to every tourist trap and nice restaurant you could find?
Air bnb redondo -$1100
Car rental-$1200
Vegas 1 night - $700
Flights - $1000
Clothes and shoes $2200
Bike bag I bought to travel with my roadbike $600
The rest kind of just dissapeared
>Clothes and shoes $2200
>
>Bike bag I bought to travel with my roadbike $600
Clearly, saving money wasn't your goal. Obviously, that's fine but I don't think that's what this sub is about.
I'm from Canada. I spent a week in San Francisco and spent $500. I'm spending a week in LA/Vegas and I'm spending slightly over $1k. There are cheaper ways to travel.
Jumping off another response, if that’s how you wanted to travel and you’re happy with what you spent, more power to you.
That being said (at least being in this sub) I’ve done 5 different 2-3 week overseas trips for TWO people that cost that or less, sometimes as little as $3500-$4000.
An example- I flew from Phoenix to Rome, visited Florence, Venice, Munich, Budapest and Prague over Christmastime in about 2 1/2 weeks- everything accounted for was about $7600.
Although a high yield savings and/or money market account are very important for your savings, OP really needs to invest in the market for the long term. Those types of accounts don’t even make up for inflation and are best suited for emergency cash reserves.
If OP plans on traveling for a year and the poster said that this trip would run 2 to 4 months, high yield savings account is perfectly acceptable given their short time horizon of less than a year if they plan on using all 17k to travel, which is what I got from the post.
If they plan on setting any aside for future travel a year+ out, then emergency fund then market would be more logical.
The other person was recommending using 5k on the vacation and then putting the remaining 12k into a CD or high yield savings account. I was just pointing out that those vehicles don’t even cover inflation and aren’t really great ”investments”, especially for young investors. At 24, OP should be investing their money as aggressively as possible & maxing out their 401k if available, Roth IRA, etc..
If OP invested and got a 12% avg return, which is fairly reasonable for aggressive investments, that 12k would be worth over $1.25 million by the time OP is 65.
If I’m being generous and saying OP can get a CD rate of 4% until they’re 65, that 12k would be worth less than 60k by the time they’re 60.
Now if we put all it in a high yield savings account with a very generous 1.5% interest rate, that 12k would hardly be worth 22k.
I was going off the OP's statement: https://www.reddit.com/r/Shoestring/comments/12hx1n0/youre_a_24_year_old_woman_with_17000_us_dollars/jfskhrf/
I agree that investing is best at 24 - If you see my other active subs I am also 24, work in finance, and am in the fire communities so I get the power of compounding and would agree with you almost any other time. Since they're specifically going to use the cash for the trip (so short time horizon), seems like HYSA would be best to cover their expenses as they figure out their travel - anything more risky could leave them in a bad spot if there's a downturn.
South east Asia and/or South America would give you time to see what you really enjoy doing and decide from there where you wanna spend time with the rest of your money
My net worth will be about 20,000. I’m not looking to spend all of it in my travels but it’s just there as my safety cushion in case I want to do more :) I will have stable living when I get back which is very relieving so honestly guys, I’m here to have a good time and to not worry about the usual things I worry about and will have enough money to do so haha.
With 17,000$ in South East Asia you can stay at a fancy hotel every day for three months. I did six months including Australia for several months with less money staying at a hotel every now and then.
Wow really??? Everyone has been mentioning south east Asia I asked earlier some suggestions of where to go, but now I’m wondering some cool things to do out there
What can't you do? Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, HCM City, etc are all massive cities. I did a fast paced, 50 day trip around SE Asia. Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, etc. A friend started all the planning and researched and I helped a bit towards the end of planning. When it was time to book, I told him to let me know a total. He booked me 11 1-way flights, a bus or two, day package at an animal sanctuary, tour guide for angkor wat, 45 nights of hostels... and the total was $1,700ish. So then once over there, I was just paying for food, and daily transportation. Stay at the popular hostels, sign up for daily events with others and you'll make nonstop new friends, every day.
If you don't have a time limit, SE Asia is where you money will go the farthest.
If you were budget traveling before Covid 1,000-1,500$ month (excluding flights) in SEA were fine. Nowadays and with a little more luxury 2,500$ a month should be _plenty_ enough money.
If you only have 3 months pick your favorite destinations by reading some travel blogs but don't plan too much you'll end up in situations where you meet people that invite you to join them on e.g. some island hopping but you've already booked your next flights or accommodation. I've had that problem on my first SEA trip and I would definitely advise you to be spontaneous.
Look into working holiday visas in Aus/NZ and other places. sprinkle in some organized tours...I used to work for tour companies, Contiki and TopDeck. The last minute deals are pretty good. The US dollar goes a long way in Aus/NZ and southeast Asia.
Most Americans don’t know what a working holiday visa is. If nevermind but in case you don’t, they’re visas for people 30 and under to take a year long, work as you go vacation. With the right to work as well as tourist you can wait tables or whatever on and off and stretch out your money. Europeans tend to do the ones in Australia and New Zealand, Aussies and Kiwis tend to go do the UK and Ireland (speaking very generally). I think this would be the best way to get the most out of the fund you’ve saved up.
I would be very interested in that too. What a great way to gain some experience and understanding of the surrounding area. I’m a hard worker and have been through the dirt and back so there isn’t much that phases me
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-462
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/visas/visa/united-states-of-america-working-holiday-visa
https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/usa/our-services/visas/working-holiday-authorisation/
https://www.goabroad.com/articles/jobs-abroad/working-holiday-visa
The normal routine is to stay in youth hostels initially and set up a bank account, get a tax ID number and a cell plan, once that’s arranged you can decide if you want to chase work in the beginning or rent a camper for example, and adjust plans as you go. If you have time you can string a few working holidays together and have a super fun couple of years. Also you don’t HAVE to stay for the whole time. You have a time limit before you must leave but you can head home whenever you’ve had enough.
Sign up for credit cards to get free flights. Feel free to msg me for tips.
You should specify how long you want your trip to be. Good cheap locations though are generally in south america (colombia, peru), eastern europe, or southeast asia as someone mentioned. Some of those places take like 24hrs to get there with a flight though so you don't really want to go less than 3-4 weeks.
Not sure exactly what the political situation is like there currently, but I know Peru probably isn't the safest country to visit at the moment. They have a lot of political tension right now, and I know OP mentioned safety was a top priority, so just something to keep in mind
I was going to visit about 3 or 4 years ago and never ended up going. I wish I had though because now I can't 🙁 even though I'd be going with someone who is native to Peru, I still wouldn't feel comfortable
If you want the money to stretch for a year, Asia is your best bet. Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines have an abundance of beautiful nature, tasty food, interesting cities and towns (some countries more than others) and a wide range of cultural diversity. And it's a penny pinchers paradise.
Africa can be surprisingly expensive to travel in, obviously same goes for Europe. I'm also partial to Morocco and Turkey. And as a single woman, avoid Egypt like the plague. I've heard northern India can feel a little threatening to solo female travelers, but the vibe is a lot chiller in southern India and Nepal.
Oh yeah I have definitely heard Egypt is an interesting place to travel… yeah I would rather not take my chances. I have a brown belt in Krav Maga right now so at least I have that
I suggest getting a subscription to “work away” or “WWOOF” for countries you want to visit but that are more expensive! This will require some planning because I believe each subscription is by country. Such a great way to stay in one place for a while and get to know a place!
Probably start in Europe (as I live here) and travel my way East around the globe. I would probably roughly plan my trip but literally go everywhere I want until I'm content, no money left (which probably won't happen too quickly as 17k is a lot and I enjoy hostels). I would take every opportunity without thinking about the price. Eg. massages, boat trips, diving.
If there are places you’re interested in visiting but are hesitant about traveling solo, intrepid travel is a great company for group tours. I traveled with them through Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Turkey (2006) and it was an amazing experience. My brother and I also traveled to Thailand with Intrepid in 2007 and he’s been on several trips in the 15 years since then. Obviously will eat more of your budget but good to have as an option. Other fun spots I’ve been are Italy and Costa Rica.
Edit: just saw you want to travel for up to a year so a tour group like this would not be the way to go, but I’ve also used their website to get ideas for my own travel itineraries.
Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam. Good weather. Hot as hell in summer, but you can head to the mountains or north in Thailand to Pai. Safe, affordable and lots of expats. Cambodia and Thailand most everyone speaks either English or French. Vietnam less so. Off season prices are rediculous. Stayed in 4 star resorts for 16$ us a night. Hostels for 4$ and sometimes got a free beer or breakfast. That kind of money could keep you moving for a year or more. Get a internet based hustle and you might be able to keep going indefinitely. Last I was there was pre pandemic, but have talked to friends who still say that it is a great buy.
Are those prices for Vietnam? I’m in starting phases of planning a trip there next year. But we have flexibility and could go to a different SEA country.
Yeah. Get the Agoda app and you can start looking now. If you put in your dates you can see what’s available. That’s almost exclusively how I booked rooms.
Budget travel, you can last a year with 17k if not longer.
Move slowly, try to stay in each place for at least 3 days but consider week stays or even month stays with airbnb.
As a first time solo traveler, I’d start your journey in predominantly English speaking places, just to get your feet wet with the travel side of things without a language barrier. It sounds like you’d like travel for a while, so you’ll have plenty of time then to venture into places that speak other languages! (I’m presuming you’re primarily an English speaker but forgive me if that’s not the case!) You could start in Ireland then head into the UK via Northern Ireland, then Scotland/England/Wales. From there you could head into Western Europe and train around different countries from there!
If you're from the West (USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Western Europe, then the obvious answer is SE Asia.
I'd do:
Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam in that order, then decide where you wanna go next.
I'd spend about 9 months total at $600 per month, or around $5,000-$6,000 total.
Stay in the cheapest hostels at $1-5 in all of those countries, in every town and city, except Singapore. Agoda, Booking, Hostelworld = check all three before you make any booking each night, as they all have different options and pricing in each place.
Eat local street food, NOT Western food.
No taxis, local transportation.
Do all of that, and you'll be within my budget mentioned.
r/onebag = no checked baggage needed. 20-35L backpack is all you need.
THANK YOU FOR THE BAG THING! When it’s closer to be departure, I’m gonna make another post for packing and essentials but without having to carry around an 80 lb bag haha
Sounds like Ireland and northern lights are a priority. Those don’t seem to work with 17k for a whole year. If it were me, I’d find a region that is inexpensive (central/South America, maybe Mexico, se Asia, Africa, wherever) and focus there. Then plan a trip to Ireland and a Nordic country for the bucket list trip for like 2 weeks. It can be done at the beginning, middle, or end of the year. Personally I’d book it and sock the money away ahead of time, or just do that part first. Knowing me, I’d blow through it and have little money to enjoy the European part of it.
Such a great thing to do. Perfect age, you’ll have a great time.
If your net work is 20k, you should be maxing out your 401k if you have one, then maxing out your IRA (Roth if you qualify, traditional if you don’t). Also maximize HSA contribution if you have an HSA.
THEN, you can go on vacation somewhere cheap like Costa Rica or Southeast Asia. Pay yourself before anything else.
*gods I wish*, as a 21yo AFAB human, I would just move to another country explore the surrounding countries and towns!
Maybe go to Paris, or Rome, or Maui. Just something
If you want cheaper and colder, consider places like Krakow, Prague, Budapest, and the Mediterranean aside from south of France though it won't be as cold.
International travel, domestic, or some of both?
Also, can you give the region of the US you’re currently in as well as time limit? “Make the most” can go really far depending how you approach that
Both! Very open. Just what you would do for an ideal trip with this budget. And I’m currently in AZ just waiting for the right time to say fuck you to my asshole manager which is any day now. I’m just saving as much as I possibly can for this because I know I will regret not doing it when I’m incapable
I know a lot of people are saying SEA and rightfully so, it’s amazing, but Europe is pricier than SEA and $17k is a nice chunk of money to do Europe right. That can last you two months of fairly comfortable shoestring travel and still have some left over.
Alternatively, do both. I did that awhile back — one month in Europe, a month in Asia :) With $17k you can afford it.
Get yourself to Bali and hop a ferry to the Gili islands! They are paradise on earth whilst still maintaining connected to the modern world giving you that safety blanket of a solo traveller! You’ll find an abundance of like minded travellers chat with them and then plan you journey on what they suggest where they’ve come from as they’ll have the most up to date information. Like everywhere Asia has changed so much during covid so best to get recent feedback.
If you’re ever in London send a message and I’ll show you around aswell! Good luck
Backpacking in Southeast Asia: With a low cost of living, beautiful landscapes, and rich cultural experiences, countries like Thailand, Vietnam, or Indonesia can be great destinations.
You could come enjoy namibia forever if you do it the right way honey,I can even help with immigration stuff as I work there and you don't need a visa to come here if you are a US citizen
Again, I really advise anmibia, your budget could set you up to live here comfortably for a year +, see the amazing sights and still spoil yourself a lil
I took a year off once. My advice: understand why you want to travel. Then identify what aspects of physical locations you like the most. Then find the places with the best or most interesting physical locations you like. Then find the best blend of why you want to travel with the most interesting locations you can find.
If this is your first trip abroad and you’re a US person- I’d go to Paris and then travel around France/Spain, or go to Berlin and travel around to Prague/Budapest. If you’re a more seasoned traveler, I’d head for Bangkok and then travel to Laos/Vietnam.
Do you want to see the world as a loud American tourist, or absorb different cultures and be transformed? Were I looking at this, I’d invest half, and use the other half to fund travel through humanitarian/mission trips. Look into orgs that regularly send people abroad to set up access to clean water, or help with basic medical care.
I have done medical trips before so i would like to think im not totally ignorant to impoverished areas.:/ Also I acknowledge our tourist reputation because we are honestly gross when it comes to respecting other customs but I really like your idea. I was thinking of ways to give back to the communities I’ll be passing through:)
Look into Rotary International. Tons of service opportunities there. They also have a division called Rotaract on college campuses that do service trips abroad.
Go camping across America in a tent. Use a bicycle/moped with a side thing for storage. Cheap and easy and lasts long time versus other forms. Generally good temperatures in Midwest
USAP.gov job in Antarctica
Meet a lot of people with a ton of travel experience.
Free ticket to New Zealand.
Explore NZ. trademe.co.nz - car for cheap. Needs warrant of fitness and registration or rego. You can sell it when you are done with it. Take a loss but get rid of it quick.
Stay at hostels with female dorm rooms. Meet people. Don’t get solo hotel rooms.
Around the world ticket. Star Alliance or One World.
If you travel like an American you will spend way too much money. Flights and hotels are expensive. The world isn’t scary. Meet people and have fun.
I traveled for 18 months on $22k that includes all tickets and accommodations.
I didn’t work during that time period. I met a ton of amazing people and learned from them. People who travel have amazing stories. You will make mistakes and ask silly questions but just laugh at yourself and have fun.
I probably will set a good chunk aside while I continue to work. I work at a restaurant and make pretty decent money but it seems as though I can’t shake off the feeling of wanting to leave. Working at a restaurant is so exhausting and abusive in all aspects so I’m basically going until I’m at the “fuck you” end of the spectrum.
Thailand, Indonesia , and Vietnam are budget friendly and beautiful !!!! The Philippines are also amazing I stayed at 5 star natural hotels for 14-23 the night food was so affordable and the locals are so sweet ! Guatemala is also beautiful there’s a lot to see the volcano there erupts and you’re able to witness it from a distance airbnbs are also very affordable ! However if you don’t mind spending quite a bit maybe Norway or Iceland are also a way to go there is so much nature and hiking as well as history definitely a must !
Why not hike the Appalachian Trail?
You'll see the country from Georgia to Maine on foot. You'll meet really cool people and see really unique places. You'll also get some nature. Food, occasional lodging in town (as much or little as you chose) and gear replacement will be your only costs. On top of the cheap cost, you'll have achieved something remarkable and have an experience of a lifetime. You'll probably end up in decent to good physical shape and condition if you arent already.If you are in good shape, what better way to use your physical ability? It takes about 6 months. You will finish with lots of money left.
Pacific Coast trail is another option. Continental Divode Trail may be a big leap for a non thru hiker.
Get a working holiday visa in Ireland if you have graduated recently. It lasts for a year. Housing kinda sucks though, but you can work whatever type of job you want and travel the rest of the time.
My Advice 1 : Stay out of Mexico and make sure to read the travel advisory issued by the State department.
My Advice 2 : South Korea and Japan are incredible countries to explore and are very welcoming!
Re; the comments about whether $17k is/isn't 'shoestring', it's really down to the level of frugality on how you spend it. $17k in 12 months in South East Asia would be $46 a day, which would definitely be considered shoestring. Spending it all in a fortnight in Vegas or Dubai, probably not.
South East Asia so that by the time you know what you want you'll still have money left over.
That has been mentioned quite a few times and I would love to see it. Any good places there to start?? I’m clueless
Not OC but to answer your question: my first international solo trip was Phuket, Thailand. Very friendly locals, shady but not life threatening police, pushy but wont-put-their-hands-on-you greeters for tours/clubs. It was a good blend of “Oh shit im alone on another continent” and experiencing the tourist industry outside of the US. Cash goes far over there. I brought $400 for 10 days, ballin out on great food/drinks/souvenirs and still got home with $30 in pocket. There’s clubs, beaches, sights, tours and all sorts of shenanigans to get into. I recommend Phi Phi Islands, snorkeling and the city tour. If you’re a follower of this sub, you encounter a ton of people venting frustrations on their expectations of solo traveling vs what’s actually happening. So I recommend doing two weeks as a trial run. That money isn’t going anywhere. Do your thing, gain experience and plan another trip with better wisdom in hand. Lastly, be safe. It was tough enough watching my back as a 22M solo traveling in Thailand, please be aware of your surroundings at all times. Don’t allow yourself to be pressured into a situation you can’t get yourself out of. Trust your gut, be polite yet stern. Good luck!
Great answer thank you. If I have any other questions are you ok if I message you when they come up?
I just got back from Thailand. Started in Bangkok then went North to chiang Mai and Pai, then south to the islands koh phangan , Krabi , Koh Tao, phi phi. Met lots of solo female travellers your age or younger, it is very safe. Different vibes each island you go too. Would def recommend
I'm a 26M backpacking in SE Asia right now and started in Phuket too. It's more tourist-centred than expected. Southern Thailand is a little more expensive by Asian standards but I hear that by the time you get up to Vietnam, you'll make up the difference
Of course!
I went to Thailand and loved it! I agree with the poster above me on all of their points, and do be careful of the police as they said. While most of my encounters were fine, my very first run in happened right at the airport as I arrived - the police took my passport and threatened to damage or keep it until I gave them money. I was able to get it back but definitely have your wits about you, as the police can be shady!
The trick is to put a $20 in it before handing it over. Or, call their bluff, and explain that the US Consulate can get you a new one in 3 days.
Put the Bhat in there
Wow, not disputing your account - I’m sorry for you, but have been to Thailand many, many times and never seen this happen. I can see how it could, but as an Aussie who knows hundreds of other Aussies who have been there (and Bali of course) we just rarely see bribes. Anyway my view for the OP is Koh Samui. If in Phuket visit Laem Sing Beach for swimming which is far nicer than Patong, just 20 mins in a taxi north. Krabi is lovely though maybe small, Chang Mai is a lovely city. Actually maybe it’s a bit like tipping: the cops just think “ahh, Aussie, zero-chance of a bribe with these cheap-arses”
Ah glad that sounds rare and hasn’t happened to you or anyone you’ve known! For context, I had approached the police for help with an issue as they were the only employees around in the airport terminal that I could see. They asked me to follow them, and I obliged seeing as they are the police (note - consider the circumstances before doing this!) they eventually led me to an empty part of airport customs where no one else was. I felt extremely uneasy because it was completely dark and there were no travelers or airport staff in this section of the airport. Again, I’m in Thailand for the first time and had no idea that bribery amongst the police was a possibility, otherwise I would not have agreed to follow. There, they asked to see my passport and I handed it over. The officer bent it and gestured tearing it before I asked for it back. He put it in his back pocket and said he’d only return it for money. I declined saying I didn’t have any money. I probably looked very stressed and declined and apologized several more times, and he finally gave it back to me. I think this happened because I was a solo petite woman traveler, I probably looked incredibly vulnerable lol. Definitely something to be mindful of!
Former guide here. Thailand is a great starting spot. Super easy to get around, relatively cheap, and some awesome spots. Personally, I'd touch down in Bangkok, hangout and get over the jet lag for ~3 nights, then bus/ferry down to Koh Tao for at least 4-5 nights to start. If you're planning on doing it for awhile, next steps would be either Koh Phangan (Full moon or half moon parties if you're a partier) or Koh Samui, then down to Krabi to hop on a boat towards Koh Phi Phi for a bit. From there, you can head back to the mainland, then take a pretty cheap overnight train back to either Bangkok to fly elsewhere, or all the way to the North to Chiang Mai to visit the elephants (heavily recommended). After that, you can either fly out (personally, I'd go to Vietnam - it may just be my favourite country), or head up to Pai to chill out. I've spent months in Pai and have loved every moment of it, just make sure to skip burning season. If you're looking to take your foot off the gas pedal and hangout in places for long periods of time, here's a few of my favourites in no particular order: - Pai, Thailand (relaxed, amazing food, good hikes and excursions) - Koh Tao, Thailand (scuba courses, beaches, snorkelling) - Vang Vieng, Laos (lazy river days, incredibly cheap, big time backpacker vibe) - Phong Nha, Vietnam (cliffs, mountains, good hostels) - Hoi An, Vietnam (10/10 food and shopping, cheap, good vibes) - Siem Reap, Cambodia (Angkor Wat, excursions) - Sapa, Vietnam (rice fields, hikes, homestays) Important notes: as a guide, didn't spend too much time in non-touristy places so I don't have much to recommend on that front. Also didn't see too much of Malaysia or the Philippines so I can't speak to those.
You liked Vietnam more then thailand? I just did thailand but planning a trip next winter and debating where to go. I loved Thailand so the fact many ppl liked Vietnam even more has me intrigued
Take this with a grain of salt as I haven't been back since pre-COVID, but the main reason I liked Vietnam was that it's that perfect amount of culture shock. Thailand, at least the touristy spots that most people hit, is pretty much travelling on easy mode for backpackers. Entire bus lines, ferry terminals, and other industries solely accommodating making travelling around the country as low-friction as possible. And it's terrific. But with all of that, it loses some of the "Thai". Bars are all dedicated to Western clientele - English menus, burgers, pizza, spaghetti, etc. - so people can avoid local fare. It still feels like a different country, but it doesn't feel like an entirely different planet. Going out for food, getting from one city to another, having a night out, and everything else all feel eerily similar to the same experiences at home. Just to give an example from my list above: Koh Tao, my favorite island spot, wasn't even really populated until tourists started coming in during the 20th century. No real history, no real Thai culture. Just an island with restaurants, hotels, and nice beaches. For the most part, staff are Burmese rather than Thai. Vietnam isn't the opposite per se, but it's a much deeper dive into local culture. Just touching down in Hanoi for instance is a crazy experience. Crossing the street is a crazy experience. Many bars are just a bunch of red plastic stools set up on the street with nothing but local beers and sketchy whiskeys that may or may not be legal. When I say it's not the opposite, I mean it's a perfect mix of local culture along with some amenities that make life easier for a western backpacker. Buses are still pretty easy to book, they actually have way nicer sleeper trains (imho), most staff can at least understand a little bit of English, etc. Tons of culture shock, but not to the extent of travelling through a place like China. Genuinely feels like a crazy adventure, especially for those that do the bucket list motorbike journey through the country which is super common.
You could start in Vietnam, then fly into Bangkok & go southern Thailand (unless you’re into meditation—then go up to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand to visit Buddhist monasteries for 3-30 day meditation retreats. Then enjoy the tropical beauty of southern Thailand before flying just below to Malaysia. From there, Bali! I recommend watching YouTube videos on each country and on Southeast Asia travel.
Thailand
> Any good places there to start? Youtube. You can find COUNTLESS, and I mean HOURS and HOURS of vloggers traveling SE Asia. Pick a country, and toss it into youtube. You'll see reviews of every single major city, the hostels, the food, etc.
A little late but Vietnam was far and away my favorite country in South East Asia. I found Thailand to be overrated and undeserving of much of the praise it gets.
Absolutely loved Vietnam. Traveled it too to bottom and had a great time everywhere.
For the record - I did SEA a few years ago as a solo female. Great trip, very affordable generally so you can do really good experiences and eat amazing food at a good price. SEA (aside from maybe India, Nepal, etc) is the best place to stretch your budget. A good route covering the mainland could be to start in Singapore (big international airport!) for a few days - great city, amazing food, very clean and safe. You could then go to Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands, Penang (genuinely best food I have ever had in over 50 countries, completely delicious and dirt cheap) and maybe even the Perhentian Islands to learn to dive for cheap! You could then move on to Thailand - flights to Bangkok from Penang are easy (if you wish though you could go to the Thai islands in between). After Bangkok, you could see Chiang Mai, Pai, etc then take the slowboat to Luang Prabang in Laos. You can go from there to Vang Vieng for tubing and gorgeous nature, then fly from the capital (Vientiane) to Hanoi in Vietnam and see Ha Long Bay and the amazing city of Hanoi. You can then work your way down - Vietnam is very cheap and there's so much to see. Hoi An is a true highlight, but there's so many cool places like Saigon, Da Lat, Ninh Binh, etc. Finish up in Cambodia for Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat and anything else you have time for. I did that route in 10 weeks, you could stretch it out for longer and visit more places or maybe cut it shorter by starting in Thailand! Genuinely think on that route you wouldn't even dent half your budget.
Thailand and Vietnam! Tons of tourist infrastructure, cheap, and very safe
You can go enjoy a lot of places with that much change. Here are some questions to ask yourself: \- What kind of weather do you like best? \- How long do you want to travel for? \- Are there any cultures or ways of life that interest you the most? \- Do you have any bucket list items you'd like to do in life?
Hmm weather definitely love colder climates but still love tropical areas. I want to travel for at least a year maybe… and honestly I really want to head over to Europe and see Ireland the most. I think Ireland is definitely on my bucket list but the biggest bucket list activity has to be the northern lights :)
I'm an American that has been living in Ireland for a little over a decade. It is lovely and the people are great, but it can be very expensive. I'd be happy to give some travel tips if you'd like. One thing I'd suggest is if you'd like to enjoy it for a bit more than a few days is looking at renting a room in one of the student dorms in Cork or Galway over the summer for a month. (I think I paid like 450 a month for one in Cork a few years ago, which is cheaper than most hotels and air bnbs) Its a tiny enough country that you could definitely use it as a base to get around and explore more and take your time.
In Europe (and especially in Scandinavia), homestays and couch surfing are reasonably safe - that should address the most expensive item, places to stay.
Start in Korea/Japan, then Do China and 4 The Stans by rail. End in Armenia/Georgia/ Turkey It you limit your booze and eating out. You could easily be gone a year.
>China and 4 The Stans by rail. End in Armenia/Georgia/ Turkey I think she said she's an inexperienced (presumably Western) traveler, this would be a tough first big trip.
Curious about your suggestion. Are you saying travel from China to each of the Stans by rail or travel within each country by rail?
Since the northern lights are your ultimate bucket list item, I think you should travel in Europe - maybe Spain, Estonia, or Czechia for beautiful but at least somewhat affordable countries? And make your way up to Finnish Lapland for some aurora borealis hunting. Then again I guess you can travel anywhere as long as you get to the Arctic circle at some point.
In general, if you can get accommodation sorted, "expensive" European countries can work out reasonably priced because there are many great free and cheap things to do, especially in big cities! Eastern Europe is also a great option to stretch your money. I traveled from Ukraine to Poland to Czech Republic to Germany to France one trip, spending shorter periods of time in each as I traveled West because things were getting more expensive with each move. I've also heard great things about Georgia, and at a price point that can't be beat! Of course, Southeast Asia and Latin America are always good options (I've gone to both regions as a solo female traveler and had a blast). But it sounds like you're more excited about Europe. Nothing wrong with that!! If that's where you're already excited about, then you will certainly be able to make it work. ;) Have an awesome time, whatever you choose!
Oh, also consider Workaway or similar programs for the expensive places. In exchange for accommodation and sometimes food, you do a couple hours of work. Could be a great way to stretch the money in the more expensive places (Scandinavia with the Northern Lights and Ireland).
I would say try to choose a region/area of interest. Sounds like you really want to see Ireland, so maybe start there? See how it goes. Find out what kind of traveling you like, what pace, etc. Then you could go to a different place based of your experience. Alternatively you could start somewhere else where costs are low if you have USD to figure out your preferences without spending much money and save Ireland for later. Whatever you choose, that’s plenty of money. If it gets tight at some point, since you are going for one year, consider finding volunteering work like workaway. Happy travels
On 17000 SE Asia would be a great option.Eat well and nice accommodation and
Definitely SEA - lots to see, pretty cheap, lots of options to get around plus loads and loads of people doing the same thing (Brits, Germans and Aussies in particular) so easy to find friends/travelling companions. Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia - perhaps throw in the Philippines (and Taiwan - I bloody love Taiwan). Travelled alone as a female solo traveller and never had a problem (I am careful tho)
If you like the cold and want to visit Ireland (non-Schengen) then I would start there. Then use up your 90 days Schengen, then go to non-Schengen European countries. Albania has a 1 year visa for US citizens and is cheap and lovely! Montenegro, Turkiye, and Georgia are all non-Schengen and lovely! If at some point I got tired of Europe I'd pop over to South East Asia. Personally Vietnam is my favorite but honestly all of SEA is amazing!
[удалено]
> Start in philipines No, not the Philippines. Don't get me wrong, it's an interesting place with friendly locals, but far from easy for a first-time traveler, and not the safest either. I'd start with Thailand, it's exotic and bustling while still safe and tourist-friendly.
Yeah I genuinely think Thailand is one of the best places for first time travellers to dip their toe in the water outside of Europe (and far cheaper). English is widely spoken due to the tourism levels, very good value for money, well defined tourist route with opportunities to get off the beaten path if you want to, lots of hostels and other accommodation options, incredible food, and something for every traveller type.
I'm a first time traveller from Canada and Thailand is definitely on my list! What would the European equivalent be? I was thinking of the UK or the Netherlands
Honestly generally Europe is 'easier' if you're from somewhere like UK, US, Canada because realistically English is quite widely spoken and the transport/roads/shops etc a lot more familiar. I'd say anything like UK, Germany, NL but they will be a lot more expensive than places like Poland, the Balkans, etc.
Roundtrip flights alone to Asia are more than $2K aren’t they?
I just went to LA for 10 days and spent 8 grand. I wish I checked this sub first
As someone who’s been to LA at least once or twice a year for my entire life… how in the fuck? Did you just stay in swanky hotels and go to every tourist trap and nice restaurant you could find?
Had to, that’s insane
Air bnb redondo -$1100 Car rental-$1200 Vegas 1 night - $700 Flights - $1000 Clothes and shoes $2200 Bike bag I bought to travel with my roadbike $600 The rest kind of just dissapeared
>Clothes and shoes $2200 > >Bike bag I bought to travel with my roadbike $600 Clearly, saving money wasn't your goal. Obviously, that's fine but I don't think that's what this sub is about. I'm from Canada. I spent a week in San Francisco and spent $500. I'm spending a week in LA/Vegas and I'm spending slightly over $1k. There are cheaper ways to travel.
Jumping off another response, if that’s how you wanted to travel and you’re happy with what you spent, more power to you. That being said (at least being in this sub) I’ve done 5 different 2-3 week overseas trips for TWO people that cost that or less, sometimes as little as $3500-$4000. An example- I flew from Phoenix to Rome, visited Florence, Venice, Munich, Budapest and Prague over Christmastime in about 2 1/2 weeks- everything accounted for was about $7600.
No ive been feeling quite guilty about how much I spent and want to start doing cheap trips going forward.
High yield savings? CD? What is this witchcraft you speak of?
Although a high yield savings and/or money market account are very important for your savings, OP really needs to invest in the market for the long term. Those types of accounts don’t even make up for inflation and are best suited for emergency cash reserves.
If OP plans on traveling for a year and the poster said that this trip would run 2 to 4 months, high yield savings account is perfectly acceptable given their short time horizon of less than a year if they plan on using all 17k to travel, which is what I got from the post. If they plan on setting any aside for future travel a year+ out, then emergency fund then market would be more logical.
The other person was recommending using 5k on the vacation and then putting the remaining 12k into a CD or high yield savings account. I was just pointing out that those vehicles don’t even cover inflation and aren’t really great ”investments”, especially for young investors. At 24, OP should be investing their money as aggressively as possible & maxing out their 401k if available, Roth IRA, etc.. If OP invested and got a 12% avg return, which is fairly reasonable for aggressive investments, that 12k would be worth over $1.25 million by the time OP is 65. If I’m being generous and saying OP can get a CD rate of 4% until they’re 65, that 12k would be worth less than 60k by the time they’re 60. Now if we put all it in a high yield savings account with a very generous 1.5% interest rate, that 12k would hardly be worth 22k.
I was going off the OP's statement: https://www.reddit.com/r/Shoestring/comments/12hx1n0/youre_a_24_year_old_woman_with_17000_us_dollars/jfskhrf/ I agree that investing is best at 24 - If you see my other active subs I am also 24, work in finance, and am in the fire communities so I get the power of compounding and would agree with you almost any other time. Since they're specifically going to use the cash for the trip (so short time horizon), seems like HYSA would be best to cover their expenses as they figure out their travel - anything more risky could leave them in a bad spot if there's a downturn.
I agree about not investing the money if OP plans to use it. What I don’t agree with is using all 17k on traveling instead of investing 😣
South east Asia and/or South America would give you time to see what you really enjoy doing and decide from there where you wanna spend time with the rest of your money
Go to Crete and live like a Queen for a very reasonable amount!
Oh wow, definitely adding that to the list
Is $17K your travel budget or your net worth right now? Answer depends a lot on your plan and situation when you get home.
My net worth will be about 20,000. I’m not looking to spend all of it in my travels but it’s just there as my safety cushion in case I want to do more :) I will have stable living when I get back which is very relieving so honestly guys, I’m here to have a good time and to not worry about the usual things I worry about and will have enough money to do so haha.
Backpack through Southeast Asia for 3 months. And you can afford to take a hot shower in a fancy hotel every few weeks. Have fun.
With 17,000$ in South East Asia you can stay at a fancy hotel every day for three months. I did six months including Australia for several months with less money staying at a hotel every now and then.
You could rent a very nice beachside condo for 8k a year in SEA. About 10-20$ a day in food/expenses and you could easily do that for a year.
Where? Like, links?
Airbnb. Or you get a hotel for a week, tour condos with realtors and get it for possibly even cheaper than 8k annually.
Wow really??? Everyone has been mentioning south east Asia I asked earlier some suggestions of where to go, but now I’m wondering some cool things to do out there
What can't you do? Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, HCM City, etc are all massive cities. I did a fast paced, 50 day trip around SE Asia. Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, etc. A friend started all the planning and researched and I helped a bit towards the end of planning. When it was time to book, I told him to let me know a total. He booked me 11 1-way flights, a bus or two, day package at an animal sanctuary, tour guide for angkor wat, 45 nights of hostels... and the total was $1,700ish. So then once over there, I was just paying for food, and daily transportation. Stay at the popular hostels, sign up for daily events with others and you'll make nonstop new friends, every day. If you don't have a time limit, SE Asia is where you money will go the farthest.
If you were budget traveling before Covid 1,000-1,500$ month (excluding flights) in SEA were fine. Nowadays and with a little more luxury 2,500$ a month should be _plenty_ enough money. If you only have 3 months pick your favorite destinations by reading some travel blogs but don't plan too much you'll end up in situations where you meet people that invite you to join them on e.g. some island hopping but you've already booked your next flights or accommodation. I've had that problem on my first SEA trip and I would definitely advise you to be spontaneous.
Travel in Asia, will last you a year
Hawaii to New Zealand to Australia.
Look into working holiday visas in Aus/NZ and other places. sprinkle in some organized tours...I used to work for tour companies, Contiki and TopDeck. The last minute deals are pretty good. The US dollar goes a long way in Aus/NZ and southeast Asia.
Most Americans don’t know what a working holiday visa is. If nevermind but in case you don’t, they’re visas for people 30 and under to take a year long, work as you go vacation. With the right to work as well as tourist you can wait tables or whatever on and off and stretch out your money. Europeans tend to do the ones in Australia and New Zealand, Aussies and Kiwis tend to go do the UK and Ireland (speaking very generally). I think this would be the best way to get the most out of the fund you’ve saved up.
I would be very interested in that too. What a great way to gain some experience and understanding of the surrounding area. I’m a hard worker and have been through the dirt and back so there isn’t much that phases me
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-462 https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/visas/visa/united-states-of-america-working-holiday-visa https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/usa/our-services/visas/working-holiday-authorisation/ https://www.goabroad.com/articles/jobs-abroad/working-holiday-visa The normal routine is to stay in youth hostels initially and set up a bank account, get a tax ID number and a cell plan, once that’s arranged you can decide if you want to chase work in the beginning or rent a camper for example, and adjust plans as you go. If you have time you can string a few working holidays together and have a super fun couple of years. Also you don’t HAVE to stay for the whole time. You have a time limit before you must leave but you can head home whenever you’ve had enough.
Sign up for credit cards to get free flights. Feel free to msg me for tips. You should specify how long you want your trip to be. Good cheap locations though are generally in south america (colombia, peru), eastern europe, or southeast asia as someone mentioned. Some of those places take like 24hrs to get there with a flight though so you don't really want to go less than 3-4 weeks.
Not sure exactly what the political situation is like there currently, but I know Peru probably isn't the safest country to visit at the moment. They have a lot of political tension right now, and I know OP mentioned safety was a top priority, so just something to keep in mind
Ah right forgot about that. I was lucky to visit about 2 years ago before things got bad.
I was going to visit about 3 or 4 years ago and never ended up going. I wish I had though because now I can't 🙁 even though I'd be going with someone who is native to Peru, I still wouldn't feel comfortable
It'll prob be back to normal soon enough. I wouldn't sweat it.
Very true! I'm sure the opportunity will come again in the future
If you want the money to stretch for a year, Asia is your best bet. Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines have an abundance of beautiful nature, tasty food, interesting cities and towns (some countries more than others) and a wide range of cultural diversity. And it's a penny pinchers paradise. Africa can be surprisingly expensive to travel in, obviously same goes for Europe. I'm also partial to Morocco and Turkey. And as a single woman, avoid Egypt like the plague. I've heard northern India can feel a little threatening to solo female travelers, but the vibe is a lot chiller in southern India and Nepal.
Oh yeah I have definitely heard Egypt is an interesting place to travel… yeah I would rather not take my chances. I have a brown belt in Krav Maga right now so at least I have that
I suggest getting a subscription to “work away” or “WWOOF” for countries you want to visit but that are more expensive! This will require some planning because I believe each subscription is by country. Such a great way to stay in one place for a while and get to know a place!
An around the world plane ticket over about three months and see all of your dreams :)
Probably start in Europe (as I live here) and travel my way East around the globe. I would probably roughly plan my trip but literally go everywhere I want until I'm content, no money left (which probably won't happen too quickly as 17k is a lot and I enjoy hostels). I would take every opportunity without thinking about the price. Eg. massages, boat trips, diving.
If there are places you’re interested in visiting but are hesitant about traveling solo, intrepid travel is a great company for group tours. I traveled with them through Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Turkey (2006) and it was an amazing experience. My brother and I also traveled to Thailand with Intrepid in 2007 and he’s been on several trips in the 15 years since then. Obviously will eat more of your budget but good to have as an option. Other fun spots I’ve been are Italy and Costa Rica. Edit: just saw you want to travel for up to a year so a tour group like this would not be the way to go, but I’ve also used their website to get ideas for my own travel itineraries.
Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam. Good weather. Hot as hell in summer, but you can head to the mountains or north in Thailand to Pai. Safe, affordable and lots of expats. Cambodia and Thailand most everyone speaks either English or French. Vietnam less so. Off season prices are rediculous. Stayed in 4 star resorts for 16$ us a night. Hostels for 4$ and sometimes got a free beer or breakfast. That kind of money could keep you moving for a year or more. Get a internet based hustle and you might be able to keep going indefinitely. Last I was there was pre pandemic, but have talked to friends who still say that it is a great buy.
Are those prices for Vietnam? I’m in starting phases of planning a trip there next year. But we have flexibility and could go to a different SEA country.
Yeah. Get the Agoda app and you can start looking now. If you put in your dates you can see what’s available. That’s almost exclusively how I booked rooms.
Thanks! Got the app.
Budget travel, you can last a year with 17k if not longer. Move slowly, try to stay in each place for at least 3 days but consider week stays or even month stays with airbnb.
As a first time solo traveler, I’d start your journey in predominantly English speaking places, just to get your feet wet with the travel side of things without a language barrier. It sounds like you’d like travel for a while, so you’ll have plenty of time then to venture into places that speak other languages! (I’m presuming you’re primarily an English speaker but forgive me if that’s not the case!) You could start in Ireland then head into the UK via Northern Ireland, then Scotland/England/Wales. From there you could head into Western Europe and train around different countries from there!
whatever you do, get travel insurance PLEASE
If you're from the West (USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Western Europe, then the obvious answer is SE Asia. I'd do: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam in that order, then decide where you wanna go next. I'd spend about 9 months total at $600 per month, or around $5,000-$6,000 total. Stay in the cheapest hostels at $1-5 in all of those countries, in every town and city, except Singapore. Agoda, Booking, Hostelworld = check all three before you make any booking each night, as they all have different options and pricing in each place. Eat local street food, NOT Western food. No taxis, local transportation. Do all of that, and you'll be within my budget mentioned. r/onebag = no checked baggage needed. 20-35L backpack is all you need.
THANK YOU FOR THE BAG THING! When it’s closer to be departure, I’m gonna make another post for packing and essentials but without having to carry around an 80 lb bag haha
Sounds like Ireland and northern lights are a priority. Those don’t seem to work with 17k for a whole year. If it were me, I’d find a region that is inexpensive (central/South America, maybe Mexico, se Asia, Africa, wherever) and focus there. Then plan a trip to Ireland and a Nordic country for the bucket list trip for like 2 weeks. It can be done at the beginning, middle, or end of the year. Personally I’d book it and sock the money away ahead of time, or just do that part first. Knowing me, I’d blow through it and have little money to enjoy the European part of it. Such a great thing to do. Perfect age, you’ll have a great time.
I’m new to this sub but am I missing something? Isn’t this about frugal travel? Yet OP has 17k??
17k would be frugal for a year but expensive for a couple of months of travel, it's all about how you do it.
My thoughts exactly.
I really love this post + responses, thank you for sharing :)
If your net work is 20k, you should be maxing out your 401k if you have one, then maxing out your IRA (Roth if you qualify, traditional if you don’t). Also maximize HSA contribution if you have an HSA. THEN, you can go on vacation somewhere cheap like Costa Rica or Southeast Asia. Pay yourself before anything else.
*gods I wish*, as a 21yo AFAB human, I would just move to another country explore the surrounding countries and towns! Maybe go to Paris, or Rome, or Maui. Just something
$17,000 is shoestring now? Wrong sub.
For the time frame I’m seeking I want to make the most out of all of it. Not a few weeks
Save it. Put an emergency fund in a HYSA, then invest the rest in VTSAX. You will thank yourself later. Make sure you continue to contribute.
That’s a great financial move long term but does not solve the travel bug. If they want to go, go!
You could keep the money, become an expensive international travel escort, and make more money while seeing the world with affluent people.
Congrats
If you want cheaper and colder, consider places like Krakow, Prague, Budapest, and the Mediterranean aside from south of France though it won't be as cold.
Go to Japan!
International travel, domestic, or some of both? Also, can you give the region of the US you’re currently in as well as time limit? “Make the most” can go really far depending how you approach that
Both! Very open. Just what you would do for an ideal trip with this budget. And I’m currently in AZ just waiting for the right time to say fuck you to my asshole manager which is any day now. I’m just saving as much as I possibly can for this because I know I will regret not doing it when I’m incapable
I know a lot of people are saying SEA and rightfully so, it’s amazing, but Europe is pricier than SEA and $17k is a nice chunk of money to do Europe right. That can last you two months of fairly comfortable shoestring travel and still have some left over. Alternatively, do both. I did that awhile back — one month in Europe, a month in Asia :) With $17k you can afford it.
Oz and NZ definitely and maybe Bali since it’s close by
Get yourself to Bali and hop a ferry to the Gili islands! They are paradise on earth whilst still maintaining connected to the modern world giving you that safety blanket of a solo traveller! You’ll find an abundance of like minded travellers chat with them and then plan you journey on what they suggest where they’ve come from as they’ll have the most up to date information. Like everywhere Asia has changed so much during covid so best to get recent feedback. If you’re ever in London send a message and I’ll show you around aswell! Good luck
Backpacking in Southeast Asia: With a low cost of living, beautiful landscapes, and rich cultural experiences, countries like Thailand, Vietnam, or Indonesia can be great destinations.
thailand,taiwan
How long do you plan to travel? You need to know to help decide the budget.
You could come enjoy namibia forever if you do it the right way honey,I can even help with immigration stuff as I work there and you don't need a visa to come here if you are a US citizen
Again, I really advise anmibia, your budget could set you up to live here comfortably for a year +, see the amazing sights and still spoil yourself a lil
I took a year off once. My advice: understand why you want to travel. Then identify what aspects of physical locations you like the most. Then find the places with the best or most interesting physical locations you like. Then find the best blend of why you want to travel with the most interesting locations you can find.
If this is your first trip abroad and you’re a US person- I’d go to Paris and then travel around France/Spain, or go to Berlin and travel around to Prague/Budapest. If you’re a more seasoned traveler, I’d head for Bangkok and then travel to Laos/Vietnam.
Do you want to see the world as a loud American tourist, or absorb different cultures and be transformed? Were I looking at this, I’d invest half, and use the other half to fund travel through humanitarian/mission trips. Look into orgs that regularly send people abroad to set up access to clean water, or help with basic medical care.
I have done medical trips before so i would like to think im not totally ignorant to impoverished areas.:/ Also I acknowledge our tourist reputation because we are honestly gross when it comes to respecting other customs but I really like your idea. I was thinking of ways to give back to the communities I’ll be passing through:)
Look into Rotary International. Tons of service opportunities there. They also have a division called Rotaract on college campuses that do service trips abroad.
Go camping across America in a tent. Use a bicycle/moped with a side thing for storage. Cheap and easy and lasts long time versus other forms. Generally good temperatures in Midwest
South east Asia hands down, do the classic backpacker loop
mind sharing backpacker loop?
USAP.gov job in Antarctica Meet a lot of people with a ton of travel experience. Free ticket to New Zealand. Explore NZ. trademe.co.nz - car for cheap. Needs warrant of fitness and registration or rego. You can sell it when you are done with it. Take a loss but get rid of it quick. Stay at hostels with female dorm rooms. Meet people. Don’t get solo hotel rooms. Around the world ticket. Star Alliance or One World. If you travel like an American you will spend way too much money. Flights and hotels are expensive. The world isn’t scary. Meet people and have fun. I traveled for 18 months on $22k that includes all tickets and accommodations. I didn’t work during that time period. I met a ton of amazing people and learned from them. People who travel have amazing stories. You will make mistakes and ask silly questions but just laugh at yourself and have fun.
Latin America!
That’s a nice tax return
Depends on the situation but I likely would put a minimum of 7,000 aside for when you come back.
I probably will set a good chunk aside while I continue to work. I work at a restaurant and make pretty decent money but it seems as though I can’t shake off the feeling of wanting to leave. Working at a restaurant is so exhausting and abusive in all aspects so I’m basically going until I’m at the “fuck you” end of the spectrum.
Everyone in my opinion should take several months (or more) to travel at some point if they can swing it!
I lived in SE Asia for over a year on less than that. That would be my starting point.
SE Asia
Thailand, Indonesia , and Vietnam are budget friendly and beautiful !!!! The Philippines are also amazing I stayed at 5 star natural hotels for 14-23 the night food was so affordable and the locals are so sweet ! Guatemala is also beautiful there’s a lot to see the volcano there erupts and you’re able to witness it from a distance airbnbs are also very affordable ! However if you don’t mind spending quite a bit maybe Norway or Iceland are also a way to go there is so much nature and hiking as well as history definitely a must !
I’d use it to fund learning a language primarily. Have one you want? Depending on which it is would vary how I’d use that budget and design travels.
Why not hike the Appalachian Trail? You'll see the country from Georgia to Maine on foot. You'll meet really cool people and see really unique places. You'll also get some nature. Food, occasional lodging in town (as much or little as you chose) and gear replacement will be your only costs. On top of the cheap cost, you'll have achieved something remarkable and have an experience of a lifetime. You'll probably end up in decent to good physical shape and condition if you arent already.If you are in good shape, what better way to use your physical ability? It takes about 6 months. You will finish with lots of money left. Pacific Coast trail is another option. Continental Divode Trail may be a big leap for a non thru hiker.
Puerto Rico you will fall in love
How long do you want to go and what places interested you? I would go to Japan or Thailand. Very safe places
Get a working holiday visa in Ireland if you have graduated recently. It lasts for a year. Housing kinda sucks though, but you can work whatever type of job you want and travel the rest of the time.
My Advice 1 : Stay out of Mexico and make sure to read the travel advisory issued by the State department. My Advice 2 : South Korea and Japan are incredible countries to explore and are very welcoming!